Northwestern State University canceled the rest of its football season after a player was shot and killed earlier this month.
Ronald Caldwell, 21, died Oct. 12 after being shot multiple times, police said. He was a junior safety at the University of Natchitoches, Louisiana.
School officials said Thursday they will focus on the mental health and well-being of Caldwell’s teammates and staff members following the tragedy.
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Ronnie Caldwell.
gofundme
“Ronnie was a beloved member of our community and we miss him dearly,” NSU President Marcus Jones said in a statement. “While our instinct was to get back on the field after his death, we have since learned that the hurt on our team was too deep. It is now in the best interest of our players, coaches and staff to pause and use this time to grieve, heal and support Ronnie’s family.”
In addition to the team taking a step back to grieve the loss, Northwestern State head coach Brad Laird resigned.
“Because of losing Ronnie and the emotional toll it’s put on me, I don’t feel like I can give my best to these players or this program,” Laird said. “Any coach will tell you that his players become like family, so losing Ronnie was like losing a son. I love this program and this university and I know it will persevere and move forward with the competitive spirit that is at the core of our DNA.”
Associate head coach and defensive coordinator Weston Glaser will serve as interim head coach in his absence.
Ticket refund requests will be processed by Scott Maggio, who can be reached at [email protected].
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The Natchitoches Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the 3800 block of University Parkway around 1:08 a.m. on Oct. 12, according to KALB 5 .
Upon arrival, they located a student athlete, a native of Texas, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
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Caldwell’s 27-year-old roommate, John McIntosh, was arrested on a charge of possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. He is being held at the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.
A facility employee confirmed to PEOPLE that McIntosh was released on Oct. 16, but could not provide additional information.
It is not known if he has a lawyer.
PEOPLE reached out to the Natchitoches Police Department but did not receive a response.
Following news of the shooting, Jones confirmed Caldwell’s death in a statement.
He called Caldwell “truly inspirational” and praised the young scientist for “spending the summer coaching a local youth baseball team, teaching those kids the values of competition and sportsmanship.”
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Caldwell’s family is devastated after “Ronnie’s life was taken so suddenly and senselessly by gun violence while he was attending school,” his loved ones said on the GoFundMe account.
“Ronnie touched many lives in his short time here on earth and was the heart and soul of his family,” they added.
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